December 11th, 2013:

I received the official offer letter from the State Department today, which contained salary information and the first batch of paperwork. I have to sign the offer letter, agreeing to accept the salary, show up for duty on time, not to take any time off during training.

Another packet of information is coming via UPS. I received an mail copy of the mailing form for the packet. It weighs three pounds. How many pieces of paper would you guess is in three pounds? I’m guessing a lot.

I also sign a form agreeing to serve wherever the government sends me. This will be the third time that I have signed this particular form. I signed it before I took the oral assessment, after I passed the oral assessment, and now. They must really mean it.